Moa Blanc wheat beer is brewed using a blend of 65% wheat malt and 35% barley malt which results in an elegantly smooth beer, with hints of spice and uplifting esters. The slightly cloudy appearance reflects its Germanic origins and it’s customary to gently roll the bottle before opening to create an even distribution of the sediment signature.

Appearance: pours a light amber-gold in colour with a finger of white head that bubbles to a thin cap.

Aroma: plenty of citrus and wheat, but with an over-riding amount of hops. Not very subtle for a wit.

Taste: refreshing and pleasant enough, but again far too much hops - it takes the lead from the wheat, which is only barely noticeable.

Aftertaste: some of the wheat does come through on the finish, but drier and with more bitterness.

Mouth feel: light in feel with a decent amount of carbonation. Could use a bit more.

Overall: this is a fairly Moa-esque beer. It is pretty good, without being really decent, and is overpriced at AU$65 a case. Moa Brewing is quickly becoming one of my least favourite 'boutique' breweries. (809 characters)

Pours a cloudy golden orange with a starch-white head that doesn't budge. Not much of a smell: some sour cherries, a bit of yeasty funk. This is a fairly one-dimensional tasting beer: clean, lemony, chardonnay sweetness on the back end. It's a refreshing beer that comes close to tasting like a wine cooler, but not quite as sweet as one. While the carbonation is significant, the bubbles are fine, like a good champagne. (421 characters)

O: This is a strange beer. The website claims that it is inspired by the kristalweizen style, though it bears absolutely no resemblance to it aside from the use of wheat. It is cloudy where a kristalweizen should be clear, and uses sauv blanc wine yeast instead of a German ale strain. The end result is a lackluster, wheaty beer with super high attenuation and a strange yeasty funk. Style issues aside, it just doesn't work. (1,179 characters)

T: The taste starts out bready with flavors of wheat, Belgian yeast and a hearty malt character for the style. Then some sweetness comes in from flavors citrus and spices. The hops presence is mild but complementary and provides a good balance. The after-taste is slightly bready.

Some people might think I've caught 'Moa fever' with all the Moa reviews I've been writing of late. The answer is "no" however 'Moa fever' is a very serious condition and if contracted please seek attention from a bottle-shop professional for ways to combat this affliction (or just drink more Moa). In any case next in the Moa line is the Blanc, and I was debating with myself whether this is a Witbier or a Weizen, and which glass it shall be drunk from... so I went with a nonic pint.

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a nonic pint *WARNING: THIS BEER MAY EXPLODE OUT OF THE BOTTLE*.

A: Hazy pale straw body with a very big frothy white head that died down as quickly as it came to a thin lacing.

S: Quite fruity for a Wit/Weizen, another unique spin here from Moa; it has overtones of melon, apple-peel, cardamom and cloves with a touch of coriander as well.

T: Pepper, cloves and nutmeg upfront on the palate with a bread yeast mid leading on to an apple/lemon finish. Fairly crisp for a Wit, which I'm now convinced it is. The finish is however is Germanic and dry, like a Weizen.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation (was expecting over the top carbonation actually).

D: Crisp, refreshing and spicy - a great summer ale combination. Priced at a reasonably high price point though, so that is one thing to consider if you were planning on a good summer drinking session ($23 for 4 x 330ml bottles). Overall though it does throw a unique Moa 'spanner in the works', which I'm starting to believe is a trend for them... aka 'I love those guys'.

A - pale translucent gold with a short lacy fizzy head. Very bubbly and has lots of small particulate matter.S - a mild wheaty sweetness with a lemon twist. There is a spice in there but just barely.T - not much happening here. Just a faint sweet mild wheat background with some dilute lemons. Still can't quite find the spice.M - watery and heavily carbonated.D - reminds me too much of mass market American beers to make it onto a repeat list. (449 characters)

Pours amber with a sudsy white head. Nose is uber-skunky but this quickly fades to reveal hints of lemon and wheat. Similar lemon flavours, quite acidic and tangy as well. Otherwise just a little bit of wheat and sweet unchallenged malt. Carbonation is way too high. (266 characters)

Clear straw color with a fluffy head, some haze.Tangy citrus and some grain, more notes of lemon. It is effervescent and has a nice lemon zest and spice finish.It's really bright and a nicely done Witbier. It would be great on a hot day and go nicely with some simple grilled swordfish with only olive oil and a lemon wedge. (326 characters)

When held against straightforward wheat/wit beers, Moa's could be considered a total failure. However, on its own merits it isn't so bad. Every wheat characteristic is toned down: the head is merely big but not towering; the aromas are hop-heavy with cloves and bananas about five steps behind; the body is thin and the fizz is more than moderate; the taste is hoppier than you'd expect with only light tones of cloves/bananas/lemons/citrus. In other words, it's a sort-of wit beer. But it's definitely refreshing and, as it warms, becomes more layered. Just leave your expectations at your refrigerator door. (609 characters)

The beer pours a hazy light yellow color with a white head. The aroma is strong wheat and lemon. The flavor is bubble gum along with wheat and lemon. This is a very light-flavor beer. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. (276 characters)

Corked and caged 750. Cloudy straw yellow with a rocky, one inch cap of foam. Good head retention, clumpy lace. Bready aroma with light lemony citrus. Soft malt flavour, mild bitterness, a bit on the sweet side. Not much in the way of citrus or spice though. The texture's not bad overall, but not what I expect form a witbier. Smooth with soft carbonation, a bit more body than expected. It's not a bad beer, quite drinkable actually, but a poor example of a witbier since it lacks characteristic flavours and crispness. (521 characters)

Hmmm. I can't say I find this beer to much resemble a witbeer. The closest it comes is in the appearance, which is a pale straw color with a fairly nice white head, several fingers high to start. The beer is either unspiced, or so lightly spiced that you get none of the witbeer's citrus or herbal qualities. Not only that, but this beer is far, far too soft for the witbeer style. It lacks and edge, or really any crispness, instead opting for very soft, rounded, wheaten flavors. Not a terrible beer, but I wouldn't have much cause to drink it again. It lacks interest and flavor to keep me coming back, and is too soft a grainy to be a decent quencher. (655 characters)

A: Pours a hazy, straw/gold color with some suspended sediment. The head quickly builds to a fizzy one finger before switching over to a layer of cream that slowly ments away. Surprisingly, lace was at a minimum.

S: When I popped the cap, I noticed a whiff of "green bottle skunk". As I worked my way through the glass, I figured out that it wasn't necessarily skunk as much as a funky and tart green apple smell. Also noticed some mildly toasted grain and a bit of Wit yeast.

T: See above. Also along for the ride was some citrus-y and grassy hops and a mere suggestion of pineapple way in the background of the finish.

M: Prickly and spicy with a fruity tang that sticks to the sides of my tongue.

D: Enjoyable and inoffensive. Can't wait to try this again in the middle of the upcoming Chicago summer. (876 characters)

A pleasant surprise to see this New Zealand microbrewery in Orange County. 375 ml bottle, on to the beer:

That might be my first gusher of 2010. Once that is under control, the beer is poured, and I get a hazy sunshine yellow color with a thick, soapy head on top. Light fruit notes in the aroma, also find some lavendar and orange peel aromas.

Light overall flavor, but it is a good one. Take some orange, touch of peach, a little lavendar, then add a wheat malt base to it, then balance it out, and you have a good tasting witbier. Very carbonated stuff....the carbonation bubbles sizzle on your tongue. Give the beer some time to chill and the ride becomes smoother. Perhaps the best part of this beer is the refreshment factor.

In summary, Moa Blanc is a good addition to the US market of beers. $3.99 for a 375 ml bottle isn't the worst value around given the other specialty, more expensive per ounce imports on the market today...and this is from New Zealand. I like it. (981 characters)

Substantial head on the pour, takes some time to get down to one to two fingers depth, bleached white, tiny microfoam yet interestingly dimpled in spots, slides off the glass too much for lacing. Pale orange hues, really mostly yellow throughout, gauzy enough to elude transparency. Gently penetrating nose of lemon peel, pretzel dough, dry yeasts, dried apples and pears, faint sweet spices, somewhat earthy but not dirty nor funky, has a mineral water touch, nothing feels out of place or desirous of hogging the spotlight. medium-bodied, the carbonation on the fizzy side and lifts things up into the air over your tongue. The clove, coriander spice clearer here, pairs well with the lemon citrus. More floral as well, like a breeze than pungent cloud. Whispers of peach, pear, apple fruit lend minor sweetness. Grainy, cereal and oats more than bread or dough. Turns tart at the end, adds to refreshing feel and primes you for another sip. (943 characters)

A: Pours a hazy straw with one and a half inch white head and lots of carbonation rising from the bottom of the glass. Leaves some lacing down the glass.

S: Starts out with a lot of sour funk from the yeast. Followed by some fresh cut grass hay like notes. As the beer warms banana and coriander come through.

T: Raw grain, spicy hops, sour yeast. Finishes with a but of sweetness.

M: Crisp carbonation punctuates a lightish body. Wheat definitely comes through on the mouthfeel, lending to a dry finish.

D: Very nice. I like the house wine yeast funk that the two moa beers I have had so far feature quite prominently. The blanc was a bit less complex and lighter than the original but that almost makes it more drinkable. (769 characters)